The question she so desperately wanted was answered by Vacaville Detectives nearly three decades later. With advanced fingerprinting technology, investigators identified 38-year-old Cynthia “Merkley” Bilardi, whose body was located in 1991.

While detectives did not suspect initial foul play, Caitlyn has so many more questions as to what happened.

“I asked was she wearing clothes? Did she have drugs on her? Were there tire marks next to her? The things that I felt that I could try to piece together,” she told detectives.

While she may never know, Caitlyn is forever grateful for those who refused to forget her mother.

“There are just no words to explain how grateful I am for that,” she said. “I believe in my heart now she’s in a better place and she’s not suffering.”

While her other siblings were raised by immediate family, Caitlyn and her younger sister were both adopted.

She’s still searching for Ashley Eve or Grace Eve who would now be 30 years old. She also doesn’t know who her father is, the only indication is that his last name is Erwingill or Ervingill.